Naogaon mangoes head to US market

NAOGAON, July 1: Mangoes from Sapahar in Naogaon, widely known as Bangladesh's commercial mango hub, have entered the US market with the export of an initial one-tonne consignment of Amrapali mangoes.

The shipment, exported on June 26 under the Golden Bengal Mango brand by Grameen Krishak Agro, is destined for Barking in the United States. The company plans to export a total of 10 tonnes of mangoes to the US under the initial agreement, while preparations are also underway to ship mangoes to Germany, France and other countries.

According to the exporter, each mango underwent Vapor Heat Treatment (VHT) to meet international phytosanitary standards before being hygienically packed. The consignment was subsequently inspected and approved by the Plant Quarantine authorities and the Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) prior to export.

Ahmad Ali, proprietor of Grameen Krishak Agro, said the shipment represented not only an export of mangoes but also the hard work of Bangladeshi farmers and the country's growing ability to compete in global markets.

"Our goal is not just to sell mangoes but to deliver the authentic taste and quality of Bangladesh to consumers around the world. We believe the superior taste of Naogaon's mangoes will attract international buyers," he said.

Deputy Director of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) in Naogaon Monjur Rahman said the department provides farmers with technical guidance to ensure export-quality mango production, from harvesting through post-harvest handling.

"We also assist farmers interested in exporting their produce. This season we expect around 1,100 tonnes of mangoes from Naogaon to be exported to different countries," he said.

According to the DAE, mangoes have been cultivated on 30,310 hectares of land in Naogaon this season, with a production target of 450,000 tonnes.

Last year, the district produced about 375,000 tonnes of mangoes from 30,300 hectares of orchards.